CN, CPKC: Rail strike could begin Aug. 22

Following the Canada Industrial Relations Board’s (CIRB) Aug. 9 decision that did not bring the labor conflict with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) closer to a resolution, CN is formally requesting the Canadian minister of labor’s intervention under the Canada Labor Code to protect Canada’s economy from the impacts of prolonged uncertainty, CN announced late last week.

The CIRB’s decision cleared the way for a work stoppage on CN and Canadian Pacific Kansas City.

“Unless there is immediate and meaningful progress at the negotiating table or binding arbitration, CN will have no choice but to begin a phased and progressive shutdown of its network, starting with embargoes of hazardous goods, which would culminate in a lockout” starting Aug. 22, CN officials said in a press release.

CPKC announced Aug. 9 that it would issue to TCRC a lockout notice effective Aug. 22 if union leadership and the company are unable to come to a negotiated settlement or agree to binding interest arbitration.

CIRB’s decision determined that no services need to be maintained during a rail strike or lockout in order to protect Canadian public health and safety. The CIRB also ordered a 13-day extension of the cooling off period which ends Aug. 22.

Following the expiration of the cooling off period, a legal strike or lockout involving the TCRC–T&E or TCRC–RCTC could occur. As part of preparations, CPKC will issue an embargo for all toxic by inhalation dangerous goods traffic to allow that traffic to safely exit the rail network prior to a work stoppage, CPKC officials said in a press release.

Other embargoes will be issued during the cooling off period, as necessary, they said.